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West: US strikes Iranian tankers in retaliation for missile attack on its warships. ·
Elsewhere: Iran strikes US warships and vessels in response to US aggression and blockade.
The Western framing establishes a clear sequence of Iranian aggression followed by a US response, while Iranian and allied media allege prior US actions justified their strikes.
The US military struck three Iranian oil tankers, stating it was retaliation for Iran's IRGC firing ballistic missiles at two US warships. The IRGC claimed its attacks hit the US vessels and were a response to a US blockade, and that it also struck other US-affiliated ships.